Lamp support and switch



NOV 16 1948- E. F. mrrzl-:N n 2,453,694

LAMP SUPPORT AND SWITCH Filed Feb. 8, 1946 dwdvd FT CAr-nt3en Patented Nov. 16, 1948 IUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlci-z Edward F. Arntzen, Rockford, Ill.

Application February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,381

This invention relates to a mounting for electric lamps incorporating an electric switch and has more particular reference to lamps of the oor or table type in which the lamp proper and its switch housing are mounted in upright position on the upper end of a standard. y

The primary object is to provide a lamp support and switch of the above character having a novel means for actuating the lamp switch in response to a force manually applied at any point around the switch housing and in a `direction along the housing axis.

A more detailed object is to provide a lamp switch actuator projecting laterally from the switch housing and adapted to operate the switch by tilting about any one of a multiplicity of fulL crurns spaced around the axis of the housing.

A. further object is to provide for tilting of the switch actuator by a squeezing action.

The invention also resides in the novel construction and mounting of the switch actuator to provide a neat and artistic external appearance to the lamp mounting as a whole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the upper portion of a floor lamp embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the lamp socket illustrating the manner of operating the switch actuator.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View similar to Fig. 2 with a portion of the `lamp socket shown in diametrical section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line il--Il of Fig. 3.

While the invention is susceptible of various modications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the prefererd embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims..

In the drawings, the invention is shown, for

purposes of illustration, embodied in an ordinary incandescent lamp socket comprising a generally cylindrical casing 5 internally threaded as indicated at 6, to receive an electric bulb 'l and se-v Claims. (Cl. 200--51.14)

V insulated material.

standard or bracket 8. In this instance, the

bracket is clamped against the lower end of the switch housing by a nut 9 threading onto a tube I0 which, in turn, is threaded into an axial bore in the lower part I I of the switch housing. Herein, the latter Ais secured by a screw I2 to the intermediate part I3 of the switch housing. 'The conductors I4 for carrying current to the switch and lamp are extended up through the tube Ill and connecting passages in the housing parts II and i3, the latter being preferably composed oi of the lamp socket. The switch actuating mechanism, which is of well known construction, may incorporate a one way clutch or motion transmitting connection such as a suitable pawl il for advancing a ratchet wheel I8 step by step to cause a cam or other suitable device to alternately open and close the switch. In the present instance, the actuating element I6 is generally U-shaped, and its closed lower end receives a headed pin 2li which projects along the axis of the housing into a recess 2l which extends transversely through the part I3 of the housing. Idle retraction of the pawl is produced by a compres-` sion spring 22 which constantly urges the actuating element I6 upwardly and acts against a washer 22a or the like pressed into the recess '2l against a shoulder in the upper end thereof'.

In accordance with the present invention, the element Iii is adaptedto be actuated byvertlcal tilting in any direction of a member 23 which encircles the housing I3 and is adapted to fulcrum about any one of a multiplicity of points spaced around the housing. Herein, the member 23 comprises a nat ring encircling the cylindrical exterior of the housing I3 with a clearance of about one-sixteenth of an inch. The ring bears upwardly about a narrow downwardly and axially facing shoulder 24 formed on the housing I3 just below the upper end of the recess 2| and providing the fulcrum points about which the ring may be rocked. Thus, the ring constitutes a lever which will fulcrum' about any point on the shoulder 24 when the diametrically opposite side of the ring is manually depressed. Such tilting of the 'ring results in a; downward motion of the ringcenter,

which motion is applied to the switch actuating center of a dat bar 28 formed integral with the ring 23 and extending radially across the latter through the recess 2l. The ring as a whole is urged upwardly by the spring 22 and yieldably held against an annular abutment or the shoulder 24.

It will be observed that the ring prolects radially and outwardly from the lamp and switch housing around the entire periphery of the latter so that a downward force parallel to the axis of the lamp socket may be applied to the ring simply by placing ones fingers against the upper ring surface and then pressing downwardly. The ring then tilts about a point o'n the shoulder 2l located directly opposite from the point o f pressure ap. plication to the ring. In this tilting, the actuating element i6 is pulled down axially through its active stroke to advance the ratchet wheel one step and thereby either open or close the switch I When the pressure on the ring is. relieved, the spring 22 retracts the ratchet pawl and also draws the ring upwardly into full abutment with the shoulder 26.

In some lamps, particularly floor lamps, it may be easier to tilt thering 2t by a squeezing action applied by the lingers of one hand. For this purpose, a flat radial ange 2li of substantially the same diameter as the ring 23 is formed 0n or attached rigidly to the switch housing and axially spaced below the ring 23 a distance at least equal to the range of tilting movement of the actuating ring. By gripping the outer portion of the ring 23 and the flange 2l between the thumb and forefinger at any point around the switch housing and then pressing the two together as illustrated in Fig. 2, the ring 23 will be rocked in the manner above described to actuate the switch.

It will be apparent that the switch actuator ring may be engaged at any point around its periphery and then depressed to open or close the diametrically opposite such. point, a member rigid Y casacca.

rected pressure to said ring on the side thereof with said ring and projectingl into said recess, an

actuating element for said switch movable axially of said projection and connected to said member, and a flange rigid with said housing and4 t projecting outwardly beyond said abutment so as switch. This motion is convenient to apply without danger of tipping the lamp structure, inasmuch as it is directed downwardly and generally parallel to the switch housing and the supporting standard. At the same time, the ring 23 and ange 2l, being flat and closely spaced, contribute to the neat and artistic appearance of the structure as a whole.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a housing for a switch having a lamp socket at one end and adapted to be supported from the other end on s. standard, the latter end portion having a recess in the side thereof, an annular abutment surrounding said recess and facing axially and downwardly, a ring loosely surrounding said abutment and bearing against and projecting radially and outwardly beyond said abutment so as to rock about a point on the outer edge of said abutment in response to the application of manual pressure to said ring on the side thereof diametrically opposite from such point, a. member rigid with said ring andprojecting into said recess, and an actuating element for said switch movable axially of said housing and connected to said member within said recess.

2. The combination of a housing having a switch therein and a projection at one end having a radially opening recess in the side thereof, an annular abutment surrounding said projection and facing axially thereof, a ring loosely surrounding said projection and bearing lagainst andL projecting outwardly beyondv said abutment so as to rock about a point on the abutment in response to the application of manual axially dito rock about a point on the abutment in response to the application of manual axially directed pressure to said ring on the diametrically opposite side thereof, a member rigid with said ring and projecting into said recess, and an actuating element for said switch movable axially of said projection and connected to said member.

4. TheV combination of a housing having a switch therein having an axially movable actuating element, an annular abutment surrounding said housing and facing axially, a member loosely surrounding said housing and bearing against and projecting outwardly from said abutment so as to rock about a point on the abutment in response to the application of manual pressure to said member on the diametrically opposite side thereof, means connecting said element and said member, and a radial flange rigid with said housing and axially spaced from said member.

5. The combination of a switch having a housing and adapted to be opened and closed by successive outward pulls on an endwise movable ac'- tuating element, an annular abutment on said housing surrounding said actuating element and facing axially and outwardly from the housing, a member urged against said abutment and tiltable about diiferent points spaced around said abutment, means connecting said element to the center of said member, and a peripheral ilange rigid with said housing and axially spaced from said member.

6. The combination of, a housing, a switch therein, a ring-like member surrounding said housing and mounted thereon to fulcrum about e. multiplicity of points spaced around the housing upon the application of manual pressure along the axis of said member and to points thereon diametrlcally opposite from said fulcrum points,

and means connecting said switch and said member including a, one way clutch and an element connected to the center of said member and operable to alternately open and close the switch in response to successive outward rocking movements of said member in the same direction, and means continuously urging said member inward- 1y.

'7. The combination of a standard, a housing secured to the end of said standard and having a switch therein, a member surrounding and projecting outwardly from said housing and bearing against the latter at a plurality of points annularly spaced around the latter, said member being 'tiltable about any one of said points in response to manual depression of the diametrically opposite side of the member, and means including one way motion transmitting connection between said switch and said member and operable in successive outward tilting movements of ysaid member in one direction to alternately open and close said switch while leaving the switch position unchanged during the reverse movements of the member.

8. The combination of a switch having a housing and adapted to be opened and closed by successive outward pulls on an endwise movable actuating element, means providing a multiplicity of fulcrum points annularly spaced around said element, a member bearing against said fulcrum points and projecting laterally and outwardly beyond said housing so as to be rocked about one point by the application of hand pressure to the opposite side of the member in the direction of motion of said actuating element, and means disposed within a circle defined by said fulcrum points and connecting said member to said element.

9. The combination of a switch having a housing and adapted to be opened and closed by successive outward pulls on an endwise movable actuating element, an annular actuating member surrounding said element and connected at its center to said element, and means on said housing engaging said member at a multiplicity of points annularly spaced around said element, said member constituting a lever tiltable about any one of said points to actuate said element.

10. The combination of, a switch having a housing, two axially spaced annular members projecting radially from said housing and mounted thereon for rocking movement relative to each other when the elements are normally squeezed together at any one of a multiplicity of annularly spaced points, and means for opening and closing said switch in response to successive movements of said members toward each other.

EDWARD F. ARNTZEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Nov. 6, 1919 

